Gardening secrets – how to cultivate, how to grow, how to take care of plants, trees and flowers.
While many of the nutrients we eat are released in a convenient liquid form (which is why diluted urine is great for immediate use in the garden or compost pile), the residual bulk and nutrients are delivered in a somewhat more problematic form: poop. Why problematic? Well, it’s heavy, bulky, and smelly, but, most importantly, in …
Should You Compost Your Poop? Studies and best composting systems! Read More »
Many wildflowers bloom early in spring, making use of sunlight that reaches the ground before the trees leaf out. Some are ephemeral, disappearing in summer’s heat. I prefer double-duty plants, whose foliage remains as a groundcover or background. The Phlox wildflowers are among the loveliest of these. Wild Blue Phlox One of my favorites is …
In nature, there is no such thing as waste. Fallen leaves, twigs, and bits of plant material fall to the ground, where they are broken down by microorganisms, and their nutrients recycled back into the soil to feed another generation of plants. You can mimic this elegant cycle by using your yard waste as mulch, …
Two defining features of the Oatlands Plantation Gardens are the terraces installed in the early 1800’s by the plantation builder, George C. Carter, and the English boxwood parterres added in the early 1900’s by Mrs. Edith Corcoran Eustis, wife of the second owner. In the Spring of 1994, the lovely green geometric patterns so familiar …
Boxwood (Buxus sp.) is an ornamental, broad-leaved, evergreen shrub that has enriched gardens for centuries. The name derives from the elegant boxes made of boxwood that ladies in ancient Rome and Greece used to store jewelry. Because of its density, strength, and uniformity, the wood of boxwood was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans …
If you’d like to get started with hydroponics, make sure you have the room and the time to dedicate to the process. Once you’ve gotten your led grow lights chosen, half the work is out of the way. Since the led grow lights are so important to the process, we recommend choosing them from http://www.thelashop.com. Hydroponics …
What is Composting? Composting can be defined as a method of decomposing garden waste under controlled conditions. Leaves, grass clippings and weeds are broken down by microorganisms into a dark, crumbly material called humus. The art of composting is setting up and maintaining the environmental conditions under which these microorganisms work best. A Fall Activity …
Composting – a method of decomposing garden waste Read More »
Crabapples are one of the most desirable small trees to incorporate into today’s smaller landscapes. They are easy to grow in zones 3 through 7, have a dramatic spring floral display, tolerate a wide range of soil and climatic conditions, and are readily available. However, they are often mislabeled, have messy fruit, have problems with …
Daylilies have enjoyed a surge of popularity in recent years. With their adaptability to heat and drought and their spectrum of colorful flowers, they have a well earned reputation as low maintenance perennials that fit the lifestyle of the busy gardener. Daylilies are not without pest problems, however. Fortunately, most are not serious and can …
